Weekend Update

The goats are doing well, all of them, including kids, go up the mountain in the mornings and then back to the goat lot in the afternoon. The kids are starting to take interest in the goat feed, but they are a long way off from chowing down. We've had both friends and relatives visit this week and the kids did show off for them. Since we don't have that big of a crop of kids this year, all eight babies tend to stay together as a group. Very entertaining to watch them. I believe they are about three weeks old in these photos taken earlier this week.

Weather was cool this week. Down to freezing several mornings, but mostly pleasant days

We had about a dozen turkeys cross the road in front of us today. I guess they won't be Christmas dinner for anyone this year. The finches are more active this week. They went through the six bird feeders in a hurry. We have our almost annual group of ladybugs. They have been in and around the house for a few weeks now and they are everywhere. They aren't a problem, just interesting to see so many.

Sunshine Update

Today has been the first day with sun for a while. We've had scattered showers and clouds for about a week. Almost 3" accumulation of rain. Fortunately no ice as that has been all north of us. In fact it has been 32º twice, but we have not had a 'hard freeze'. We still have blooming begonias and other flowers. Rye grass has emerged with this rain.

All mothers and kids are well. Opened the big pasture gate today so I'm sure they will go exploring soon. Hope no babies get left behind. It happens, they fall asleep and lose track of the big goats. Almost two weeks old in this photo. Open the photo, all eight are there.

Deer have been active this week.

Weekend Update

All I had to do was leave the ranch and of course everything happens. The goats kidded this week. Eight babies, seven females. The kids look very good. Terry had to separate donkeys, pen goats with moma's, get food & water, and everything else. All this and she was working in town all week decorating for Christmas and the Norwegian weekend.

The only bad news: We did loose another goat who happened to be the mother of the previous one we lost. They may have had a toxicity issue with birthing. Sometimes that happens.

Photos: Babies not quite 3 days old. Baby MoMo on the right (named for a friend)

Weekend Update

No kids yet. Should be any day though. Two goats can barely walk they are so big. Unfortunately we did lose a goat. She was a younger one who had never been exposed and I guess just could not handle pregnancy. The others seem fine although two are uncomfortable. I'll be away for a few days, looks like the Mrs. will have to handle any problems.

The great weather turned cooler at Thanksgiving. It's been much cooler, but staying just above freezing. We have had some rain for a couple days. We really needed it. Over 2+ inches total and it put some water back in the tank.

We are still getting tomatoes and the grass turned green again following the rain. The live oak trees look great, no stress this time of year as in past two dry years. We don't have has much fall color this year as last in the Spanish oaks. Dry weather causes more color and overall this was a good year for the trees.

Weekend Update

The weather has been beautiful; however, it is still very dry and now becoming dusty. We could really use some rain. The stock tank has dried up which I wouldn't have thought would happen this year, just getting our summer late. Good clearing weather so we have cleared cedar around the house and along the trails. The stump grinder is great for clearing stumps around the house. If it ever looks like rain I'll sow rye grass in the new areas we have cleared.

Had a small goat rodeo last weekend as my neighbor came over and we loaded up the big Billy Goat. His work here is done. He's about 75-80 pounds bigger than when I got him, we'll soon see what kind of kids he throws. I was wrong in the summer about the goats being with kid early. They were just very fat from the great grass from the summer rain. They are all going to have kids now though which is really the right time. I'm guessing by the next blog update we'll have goat kids running around. Annie has been spending time with the new donkeys, but last several days has gone back to the goats. She may know they are about to kid as well.

A big buck jumped the fence row just in front of me yesterday which reminds me that hunting season has started. We have one very large buck that I've seen a lot and several smaller ones. We'll see if the big one makes it through the season. I have not seen any more big cat signs at all so I'm not as on guard when taking Kenzie out.

Weekend Update

The weather has cooled and we are getting more typical fall weather finally. Very dry, only a small shower (.5) over past two weeks so it is starting to get dusty as well. We have done some clearing and dirt work, but nothing major. Very good tree clearing weather so it's time to get started on some projects.

The birds have not really been visiting the feeders for awhile. A few Cardinals in the fountain on occasion. We have real concern about a big cat. We have moved big rocks we were using as a border and cut the high grass along the front circle that we had intended to be natural. It's too close to the front where we let Kenzie go out in the evenings and to be safe we are clearing out that area. Of course the grass is higher than normal this year. I have heard something in there twice, which I had originally just thought were deer, but the last time I think it was a big cat. I started packing both pistol and spot light when letting the dog out, but since doing so, have seen nor heard other signs. They are so smart.

Weekend Update

I was again traveling the past nine days so not a lot of doings around the ranch. The weather has been hot & dry and the amount of fall pollen, etc. is really high since we have all the new growth of grasses this year. I'm now paying for it with hay fever. Being away didn't help as it has hit me all at once. We may be looking forward to a freeze. At least grass has somewhat covered all the old road dirt I spread in the spring.

Terry did paint the kitchen and make repairs in the big house. Looks very good.

The three donkeys have kind of assimilated with the rest of the animals. Sometimes with them and sometimes still on their own. I guess I was very wrong about the goats getting ready to kid. They may have just been super fat from all the grass available. They haven't 'bagged up' like they should so only time will tell.

Update

We've been traveling and not spending as much time at the Ranch this month.

I did get the stump grinder tuned and serviced. That meant grinding stumps of course. We are extended the grassy area in the back further away from the house. This means cutting cedar trees, grinding stumps, etc.. Because of the good rains this year, the grass is doing well, so it is a great time to do it if we are going to do it.

I mentioned the fewer rabbits and squirrels in a previous blog and now I am not seeing as many raccoons. This is very unusual as they usually raid the feeders every night, but have been absent for a week. Either a neighbor has hunted and/or trapped a lot of them or I'm afraid we do have a BIG cat here again. That would not be good.

The new three amigas (donkeys) are doing great. They really put on a show running and chasing each other and just 'showing off' when we got back from a trip. They love the pasture. The goats are huge, thought they would be having kids soon, but not yet. I haven't seen any hummingbirds the past week so I guess they may be gone for the year.

Weekend Update

We had a big rain overnight Monday and Tuesday. Over 5 inches. That's as much as the rain gauge holds. FM 182 was again closed as Gary Creek was over the bridge by a lot. With this rain we should have grass until we get a freeze. The new culverts both on the county road and our trail worked very well. Of course with 5" everything overflowed, but it did so where it is designed. Then the culverts controlled the run off. Repaired gullies in road later in the week.

Tuesday night was 7 night. There were seven deer in the back yard and then later after dark there were seven raccoons (counting the young triplets) in the back circle.

The three new donkeys still independent of the rest of the animals. Annie keeps them separated. There is room and grass so not a problem. All the goats will be having kids soon perhaps as soon as two weeks is my prediction.

The weather has been nice. Warm, but not too hot in afternoons. We did some trimming and cut some cedars as well. We've been gradually expanding the yard into the woods. The wet weather and growing yard grass has allowed us to do so.

I've noticed some new fall flowers. Still lots of hummingbirds and cardinals.

Weekly Update

We were out of town for a week so no real activities by us although the wildlife and animals look like they had a good week. All animals accounted for and healthy. In fact Annie looks too heavy. I think she is trying to eat all the grass in the pasture before the three new donkeys can. The rain gauge had .6 inches so it did rain during the week. Early this morning we got a good rain of 1.5 inches. The grass was starting to get stressed, but with this rain we will have grass all summer for the first time in many years. With just a little help we could have grass through November or longer.

I've noticed numerous ruby-throated hummingbirds. I guess they are finally here. They are really battling the other hummingbirds for the feeders.